Article dispensing apparatus



July 21, 1964 H. o. MOORE ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1962 INVENTOR. Hmzwx O. Meow:-

BY a K A TT072NEY5 .lll/l/Ilflllfflll l l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1962 ATTORNEYS July 21, 1964 o, MQORE 3,141,571

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS July 21, 1964 H. o. MOORE ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25, 1962 INVENTOR. HARRY O. M0025 E.1 M,M+M

ATTORNEYS July 21, 1964 H. o. MOORE ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1962 HARRY 0. Moone- INVENTOR.

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' INSULATION ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,141,571 ARTIQLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Harry G. Moore, 2921 Rozzells Ferry Road, Charlotte, N.C., assignor cf fifty percent to William E. I-Iipp, lira, Charlotte, N.C.

Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No. 204,720 13 Claims. (Cl. 221-495) This invention generally relates to article storing and vending machines and, more especially, to an improved article dispensing apparatus particularly devised for efficient and rapid conveying and dispensing of articles such as cylindrical metal containers.

In the operation of automobile service stations, for example, cylindrical cans of oil and other merchandise are stored in racks near the usual fuel dispensing pumps during business hours. As is well known, such merchandise is generally carried into a building and stored whenever the service station is closed to business to prevent theft of such merchandise. Of course, this procedure is reversed each time the service station is reopened.

Not only is considerable work involved in shuttling such merchandise between the building and the area of the fuel dispensing pumps, but the operator of the service station ordinarily rnust perform such work while the service station is closed to business, thus requiring that time be scheduled for this purpose which is in excess of time that the service station is actually open for business.

While the present apparatus may be used for dispensing any desired type of article at any desired location, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved article dispensing apparatus which is particularly readily adapted for dispensing articles such as cans of lubricating oil, which articles may be stored in a housing buried beneath the ground adjacent the fuel dispensing pumps, for example, so that the improved dispensing apparatus may be largely concealed and the stored articles or the housing therefor would not be readily subject to intentional destruction or theft.

It is another object of this invention to provide an article dispensing apparatus in which each successive article is engaged and raised to a given level by a grasping device whereat the article is released from the grasping device, and wherein improved means are provided for effecting each active or upward stroke to the grasping device, such means being embodied in a driven, rotary, helically grooved member or shaft which is engaged by a follower whenever an article is to be raised to said given level whereby the helically grooved shaft imparts movement to the follower parallel to the shaft and thus imparts movement to the grasping device, the follower being automatically withdrawn from engagement with the spirally grooved shaft at the end of each active stroke of the grasping device so the grasping device may return to its original position.

In its preferred embodiment, the helically grooved shaft is in the form of an open coiled spring fixed on and encircling a shaft driven by an electric motor, and the follower is in the form of a normally retracted or withdrawn bar or rod movably mounted on a follower carriage guided for movement substantially parallel to the shaft. Manually controlled electrically operable means moves the follower into engagement with and between the coils of the spring and, preferably energizes the motor, whereby the rotating spring imparts an active stroke to the carriage. At the end of each active stroke of the follower carriage, the follower moves out of engagement with the spring and is then free to return to its original inactive position. The grasping device is preferably in the form of a permanent magnet connected by a cable to the said carriage and being so arranged that, upon the follower moving out of engagement with the driven shaft at the completion of each active stroke of the carriage and the grasping device, the grasping device returns to its original inoperative position, preferably by gravity, so as to return the carriage to its normally inactive position.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the improved dispensing apparatus with one side wall of the housing therefor removed for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged rear elevation, partially in section, taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1, but including both side walls of the main housing;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2 with the grasping device being shown in fully lowered position in solid lines and in raised position in broken lines and also showing how the containers or articles are stripped from the grasping device in broken lines;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, with parts broken away, taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken substantially along line 5-5 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially along line 66 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for the apparatus.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 broadly designates a suitable storage housing within which articles A to be dispensed may be stored. Although various types of articles may be dispensed from the storage housing 10, the articles in this instance are shown in the form of cylindrical metal containers, such as quart size sealed cans of the type which contain lubricating oil as it is dispensed at most automobile service stations. In this instance, housing 10 includes suitably interconnected front, rear, top, bottom and opposed side walls 11-16. The front upper portion of front wall 11 is preferably provided with an access opening 17 through which articles A may be inserted for loading a storage rack broadly designated at 20.

Opening 17 is normally closed by a suitable removable or hinged door 21. The lower portion of the front wall 11 of housing 10 is also provided with a discharge opening 22 through which dispensed articles may be discharged or removed from the housing 10. In this instance, housing 10 is provided with a discharge chute 24 which is substantially rectangular in cross-section and includes opposed side walls 25, an irregularly shaped top wall 26, and a downwardly and forwardly inclined bottom wall 27. The bottom wall 27 terminates rearwardly of front wall 11 and against bottom wall 14 of housing 10. A suitable cushion material 30, such as foam rubber, may be positioned on the bottom wall 14 between the front wall 11 and the inclined bottom wall 27 of chute 24 and upon which the dispensed articles may come to rest as they are dispensed by the dispensing apparatus in a manner to be later described.

Generally, the rack 20 may be of any desired construction and is shown as comprising a plurality of interconnected inclined pairs of angle bar rails or runs 31-36. Adjacent ends of these rails are interconnected by substantially semi-circular flanged guides 37 suitably secured to or formed integral with the corresponding rails 31-36. The front ends of the uppermost rails 31 of rack 20 are suitably secured to the front wall 11 of main housing lit, and the front ends of the bottom rails 36 of rack 20 are suitably secured to the rear edges of foot brackets 41,

41' (FIGURES 1, 2 and 5) of a substantially upright frame of the improved article transferring and dispensing apparatus broadly designated at 44. The substantially semi-circular guides at the rear portion of the zigzag storage rack 26 are suitably secured to the rear wall 12, as by brackets 45.

The frame of the dispensing apparatus 44 is preferably, but not necessarily, inclined at a slight angle with respect to the upright front and rear walls 11, 12 of housing 10. However, said frame may be considered as an upright frame.

The side brackets 41, 41' of frame 44 support the lower ends of substantially vertically disposed side rails or side frame members 51, 51. The lower ends of side rails 51, 51 are spaced sufliciently above the level of the bottom wall 14 and the bottom flanges of the side rails 36 of rack 20 in order for the articles A to pass beneath side rails 51, 51. The rear portions of side walls 25 of discharge chute 24 are fixed to side rails 51, 51'.

The side rails 51, 51' of the dispensing apparatus 44 are in the form of double channel members, in that they are provided with respective flanges 52, 53, 54 and 52, 53, 54 on the proximal surfaces thereof. It will be observed in FIGURES 5 and 6 that the front flanges 52, 52' of side rails 51, 51' are relatively narrow as compared to the intermediate flanges 53, 53' and the rear flanges 54, 54'. Thus, each successive article A may pass between the proximal edges of the front flanges 52, 52' while its end portions may engage flanges 53, 53 and ride against the same during each active stroke of a gripper or grasping device 57 to be presently described. As best shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, a gripper carriage 55 is guided for substantially vertical sliding movement in the channels or grooves defined by the front and intermediate flanges 52, 53 and 52', 53. A movable guide or follower carriage 56 has enlarged side portions which are guided for substantially vertical sliding movement between the intermediate and rear flanges 53, 54, 53', 54. Gripper carriage 55 carries the gripper or grasping device 57 which is shown in the form of a substantially cylindrically-shaped permanent magnet welded or otherwise suitably secured to a medial portion of carriage 55.

In this instance, the grasping device 57 also serves as a lifting device. Thus, in order to raise grasping device 57, one end of a cable or pliable element 69 is suitably secured to a central portion of magnet 57. Cable 60 passes upwardly over a suitable guide comprising, for example, a grooved pulley 61 journaled, as at 62, in a bifurcated top frame member 63 (FIGURES 3 and 4) which is suitably secured to and spans the distance between the upper ends of side rails 51, 51' of the dispensing apparatus 44. The cable 60 then extends downwardly from the other side of pulley 61 and is suitably connected to a medial portion of follower carriage 56 (FIGURE 3).

Disposed rearwardly of carriage 56, and extending in substantially parallel relation to the frame members 51, 51 is a rotary member in the form of a substantially upright, intermittently driven, shaft 64 which is provided with a helical groove 65 throughout a substantial portion of the length thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the helical groove 65 is defined by the spaced coils of an elongate helical or coiled spring 66 having an internal diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of the shaft 64 and being secured to shaft 64 by any suitable means such as a pressed fit or by welding.

The helical spring 66 is particularly desirable as a means to form a helical ridge and helical groove on the substantially upright rotary member or shaft 64 for transmitting active movement to the carriages 56, 55 and grasping device 57, through the medium of a suitable motion translating member in the form of a follower 85, because standard springs are usually made from round steel wire, they are usually tempered, they are readily available, and they can be purchased at very low cost as compared to the cost of threaded shafts. However, it is contemplated that the shaft 64, or a shaft serving the purpose of shaft 64, may be formed with suitable translating threads, such as acme threads, stub threads, worm threads, buttress threads, or the like, and the spring 66 could then be omitted from shaft 64, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such threads should, however, be smoothly rounded and the shaft 64 should preferably be of hardened metal so the follower 85, to be later described, may readily enter the helical groove 65 defined by such threads.

The upper and lower portions of shaft 64 are suitably journaled, preferably by means of anti-friction bearings '70, 71, in the upper frame member 63 and a lower transverse frame member 72. It will be observed in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 that lower frame member 72 is spaced above the level of the path of travel of the articles A along the bottom rails 36 of rack 20, and opposed ends of bottom frame member 72 are suitably secured to or formed integral with the brackets 41, 41. The rear flange 54' of upright frame member 51' also terminates against the upper surface of transverse lower frame member 72.

Shaft 64 extends upwardly above bearing 70 and has a pulley 75 fixed thereon engaged by an endless belt 76. Belt 76 also engages a relatively small pulley 77 fixed on the shaft of an electric motor 80. Electric motor 86 is suitably secured to a motor support bracket 81 which is, in turn, suitably secured to side rails 51, 51'.

In order to convert the rotary movement of shaft 64 to linear movement for imparting downward movement to carriage 56 and upward movement to carriage 55, the follower 85 is mounted on carriage 56, but is normally positioned out of engagement with shaft 64. Follower 85 is adapted to move into engagement with the spiral groove 65 formed in shaft 64. The lead or angle of the spiral groove 65 is such that, when rotation is imparted to shaft 64 by electric motor and follower is in engagement with the spiral groove 65, the shaft 64 then imparts downward movement to carriage 56.

In this instance, follower 35 is in the form of a rod or bar, one end of which is pivotally connected, as at 86, to carriage 56 adjacent the side frame member 54 and for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of shaft 64 (FIGURES 2, 4 and 5). Follower 85 is of suflicient length so that its free end is disposed in the horizontal plane of the rear flange 54 of the side rail 51. A medial portion of rear flange 54 is cut away at a point spaced from, but adjacent the upper end of frame member 51 to form an opening or slot therein. Also, the portion of flange 54 defining the lower wall of slot 99 is bent outwardly to form a cam surface 91 thereon (FIGURE 5) to assist in leading the free end of follower 85 forwardly of flange 54 in the course of each downward or active movement of carriage 56 and so that the portion of flange 54 below opening 90 then serves as a retaining means or guide to retain follower 85 in engagement with the spiral groove 65 in shaft 64 throughout a predetermined amount of downward movement of follower carriage 56.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the lower portion of rear flange 54 is also cut away to form a shoulder 92 at the lower end of the flange 54 and this shoulder determines the extent of downward movement which may be imparted to carriage 56, because follower 85 is normally urged rearwardly away from shaft 64 and flange 54 by a spring 93 (FIGURE 5) and, thus, the free end of follower 85 moves outwardly as soon as it passes below shoulder 92 with each downward stroke of carriage 56.

Referring again to FIGURE 5, it will be observed that spring 93 is in the form of a tension spring having one end connected to a medial portion of follower 85 and having its other end connected to a suitable anchor 94 fixed on the free end of a rigid arm 95 carried by and projecting rearwardly from the carriage 56.

In order to actuate the follower 85, as desired; that is, in order to move the free end of follower 85 forwardly to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 5 and to also move a medial portion of follower 85 into engagement with the helical groove 65 in shaft 64 whenever an article is to be dispensed from housing 10, a follower actuator 111i) positioned outwardly of follower 85 (FIG- URES 1, 2, 4 and 5) is moved forwardly, in a manner to be presently described, to thus move the free end of follower 85 forwardly therewith to where it is positioned forwardly of the flange 54 or, at least, to where it passes into the opening 911 a sufficient distance so that its free end is positioned so as to engage the cam portion 91 as the medial portion of follower 85 engages the helical groove 65 and downward movement is imparted tocarriage 56.

It will be observed in FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 5 that actuator 100 is in the form of a bar or lever having its upper end pivotally connected, as at 1111, to the top frame member 63 of dispensing apparatus 44. The lower end of actuator 11111 is disposed below the level of, and rearwardly of, the corresponding portion of follower 85 whenever carriage 5t? occupies fully raised position. Actuator 111i is normally urged rearwardly by a tension spring 102 (FiGURE 5), the front end of which is connected to actuator 11211 and the rear end of which is connected to a spring anchor 163.

Spring anchor 153 extends downwardly and laterally, and is fixed to side rail 51 below cam 91. A medial portion of actuator 1110 has one end of a link or cable 104 connected thereto (FIGURES 1, 4 and 5) which extends forwardly and is connected to the plunger of a solenoid 1135. The casing of solenoid 105 is fixed to a bracket 106 which is, in turn, suitably secured to side rail 51 of dispensing apparatus 44.

Solenoid 1115 and motor 89 may be energized by momentarily closing a normally open manually operable main control switch 111 which may be positioned at any desired location remote from or adjacent to the dispensing apparatus 44 and which is shown, in this instance, as being suitably supported on the front wall 11 of main housing 10.

It is apparent that, upon energization of solenoid 105, the plunger thereof moves forwardly to impart forward movement to actuator 11111 and to move the free end of follower 85 into the opening 90 formed in flange 54 of side rail 51. As heretofore stated, a medial portion of follower 85, preferably curved as shown in FIGURE 5, then also moves into engagement with the helically grooved shaft 64 so that downward movement is imparted to carriage 56.

As carriage 56 moves downwardly, carriage 55 and grasping device 57 move upwardly to raise an article A therewith. The article thus raised is stripped from the grasping device 57 in a manner to be presently described, after which the free end of follower 85 moves below shoulder 92 and out of engagement with flange 54 so that spring 93 (FIGURE 5) then moves follower 85 out of engagement with shaft 64. Since follower 85 is then released from engagement with shaft 64, the weight of grasping device 57 and carriage 55 is such as to cause the same to move downwardly and pull the carriage 56 upwardly to its original position.

In the course of such upward movement, the free end portion of follower 85 engages and opens a normally closed knock-off switch 111, thus breaking the circuit to the electric motor 811 and the solenoid 105 in a manner to he later described. Since solenoid 1115 is then de energized, the lower portion of actuator 100 is positioned rearwardly of the free end portion of follower 85 as it returns to fully raised position with carriage 56, so that the parts are then positioned for a repeat operation. Switch 111 is fixed to the web of side rail 51 by a suitably slotted bracket 112 (FIGURES 1 and 2). Upward movement of carriage 56 is limited by a stop or abutment 113 (FIGURE 2) carried by the web of side rail 51. Stop 113 is so located that magnet 57 engages a succeeding article when carriage 56 engages stop 112. Further details of the electric circuit will be given, with reference to FIGURE 7, later in this context, and the stripping device will now be described.

In order to insure that each successive article is properly positioned within the dispensing area defined by the discharge passageway or chute 24 as the article is raised by the grasping device or permanent magnet 57, the upper rear end portion of the inclined bottom wall 27 of chute 24 has a vertically movable gate 115 pivotally connected thereto, as at 116 (FIGURES 1, 3 and 6). Gate 115 is normally inclined at a relative shallow angle and its rear portion is normally urged against the front surfaces of the front flanges 52, 52' of side rails 51, 51' by a tension spring 117 (FIGURES 3 and 5). The upper end of tension spring 117 is connected to gate 115 and the lower end thereof is connected to side rail 51. The rear central portion of gate 115 is provided with a substantially semi-circular opening 121) therethrough which is sufficiently large to permit the permanent magnet 57 to pass therethrough.

It will be observed in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 that the upper wall 26 of discharge chute 24 has a raised ingress portion or stripper 121 thereon which is spaced sufliciently above gate 115 so that the gate may be swung upwardly to the broken line position of FIGURE 3, for example, to where the article A will pass the free end of gate 115 before the article A engages the overlying stripper 121. It will be noted that stripper 121 is provided with an opening 122 therethrough (FIGURES 2 and 5) which is sufliciently large to permit grasping device 57 to pass therethrougn, but which is of lesser width than the length of the corresponding article A.

It is apparent, therefore, that each time the magnet 57 is caused to move upwardly in an active stroke, due to downward movement of the follower carriage 56 in the manner heretofore described, the magnet 57 passes through opening in gate 115, the article then suspended from permanent magnet 57 engages and swings the gate 115 upwardly to substantially the broken line position of FIGURE 3, the permanent magnet 57 then passes through the opening 122 in stripper portion 121 of discharge chute 24, and the article suspended therefrom is then stripped therefrom as it engages the lower surface of said stripper portion 121 and thus falls onto the upper surface of gate 115. It is apparent that gate 115 will have returned to the closed or lowered position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 3, under the influence of spring 117, so that the corresponding container or article A will then roll down chute 24 and come to rest upon cushion 30. As each successive article A is raised above the next succeeding article by the grasping device 57, the next succeeding article then rolls into position below the permanent magnet or grasping device 57 where it is temporarily supported or comes to rest against a nesting block or chock block 125 suitably secured to the bottom wall 114 of housing 19.

It is apparent that, when the supply of articles A on rack 20 becomes depleted, the door 21 may be removed from front wall 11 of housing 10 and a new supply of articles A may then be positioned on the rack 20. Further, the side wall 16 may be removable to facilitate rapid reloading of the rack 20 with articles A.

Electrical Circuit As heretofore stated, whenever an article is to be dispensed by the apparatus, an operator momentarily closes switch 110 to simultaneously energize electric motor 80 and solenoid'105, whereupon shaft 64 rotates and actuator 1% moves follower 85 into engagement with groove 65 in shaft 64. A downward active stroke is then imparted to carriage 56 to raise grasping device 57 in the manner heretofore described and, upon downward movement of the free end of follower 85 below shoulder 92 of flange 54, spring 93 (FIGURE causes follower 85 to move out of engagement with shaft 64 and spring 66.

With subsequent upward movement of follower carriage 56, follower 85 engages and opens normally closed stop switch 111 to break the circuit to the electric motor and solenoid 105, provided that switch 110 is not closed. However, in the event that switch 110 is closed at the time that switch 111 is opened or, if an operator happens to close switch 110 after carriage 56 moves upwardly past switch 111 and at some time prior to the return of carriage 56 to its fully raised position, the motor 80 and solenoid 105 would, of course, be energized so that follower 85 may pass upwardly rearwardly of the actuator 100. This would prevent follower 85 from engaging shaft 64 so carriage 56 would remain in elevated position. More importantly, electric motor 80 would remain energized until such time as a side panel 15 or 16 of the housing was removed and the switch 111 could be manually opened or the electric current could be shut off at the source.

The circuit of FIGURE 7 is particularly devised to prevent reactuating the electrical circuit to the motor 80 and solenoid 105 following any given actuation thereof until the carriage 56 has returned to its normally inactive or fully raised position. The electrical circuit will now be described in detail.

It will be observed in FIGURE 7 that the flow of current to solenoid 105 and motor 80 is effected by an electro-magnetic relay 130 which is initially energized for each cycle in the operation of the machine by manually closing the normally open main control or master switch 110. As shown in FIGURE 1, relay 130 may be suitably supported on the front wall 11 of housing 10.

It will be noted that, upon closing the normally open manually operable switch 110, the circuit is completed across a pair of conductors 131, 132. Conductor 131 is connected to a lead conductor L-l extending from an electrical connector 133 which may be connected to, and is representative of, a source of electrical energy. The other side of connector 133 has a lead conductor L2 leading therefrom.

Upon initially closing switch 110 to start each cycle in the operation of the vending machine, the current flows from lead conductor L-i through conductor 131, master switch 110 and conductor 132, and through a normally open safety switch 134 which is held in closed position by the carriage 56 whenever carriage 56 occupies fully raised position as will be presently described (FIGURE 2). Assuming switch 134 is closed when switch 110 is closed, current flows through switch 134 and through a pair of interconnected conductors 135, 136 and to one side of the coil of relay 130. Current flows through the coil of relay 130, through a conductor 137 and thence through lead conductor L2 to the connector 133, thus completing the circuit to the coil of relay 130.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it should be noted that, when the follower carriage 56 occupies raised position, it bears against one arm of a substantially L-shaped resilient switch actuator 140 which may be in the form of a leaf spring. The actuator 140 extends loosely through an opening 141 formed in the web of side rail 51' and then extends downwardly and is pivotally connected to the housing of normally open switch 134. As best shown in FIGURE 4, the housing of switch 134 is secured to a bracket 142 extending outwardly from and being suitably secured to upright side rail 51'. It is apparent that a biased plunger 143 of switch 134 is engaged and depressed by the substantially vertical leg of switch actuator 140 when the horizontal leg of actuator 140 is biased upwardly by the follower carriage 56. Since switch 134 is of the normally open type, it follows that the switch 134 opens upon the pressure on plunger 143 being released due to downward movement of follower carriage 56 in the manner heretofore described.

The armature of relay 130 has a pair of electrical con tacts a, b thereon which are insulated from each other. That end of lead conductor L-Z opposite from electrical connector 133 is connected to armature contact a. Contact b has a conductor 145 leading therefrom to conductor 136; i.e., both conductors 136, 145 are connected to the same end of the coil of relay 130 opposite from that end to which conductor 137 is connected.

Relay 130 also includes a pair of fixed electrical contacts a, b which are normally spaced from respective contacts a, b, but which are engaged by the latter contacts upon energization of the coil of relay 130. It will be noted that stop switch or knock-off switch 111 has a pair of conductors 146, 147 connected to opposite sides thereof, conductor 146 being connected to contact b of relay 130. Conductor 147 is connected to a conductor 150 leading from lead conductor L-1 to one side of electric motor 80. The other side of electric motor has a conductor 151 leading therefrom to a conductor 152. One end of conductor 152 is connected to fixed contact a of relay 130 and the other end of conductor 152 is connected to the end of the coil of solenoid opposite from that end to which lead conductor L-1 is connected.

It has already been stated that relay 130 is energized when the manually operable master switch is closed. This causes the armature of relay to move toward the coil thereof so that contacts a, b move into engagement with contacts a, b. This establishes a holding circuit through the coil of relay 130, since switch 110 normally is only closed momentarily and the opening of switch 110 would otherwise break the circuit to the coil of relay 130.

When'contacts a, b move to closed position with respect to contacts a, b and the operator permits master switch 110 to open, current then flows from lead conductor L-l, through conductor 147, switch 111, conductor 146, contacts b, b, conductor 145, the coil of relay 130, and conductor 137 to lead conductor L-2. It is apparent that this maintains the flow of current through the coil of relay 130 until switch 111 is opened.

Energization of relay 130 in the manner heretofore described also energizes electric motor 80 and solenoid 105, because current flows from lead conductor L-1 through conductor 150, electric motor 80, conductors 151 and 152, contacts a, a and thus to lead conductor L-2. This completes the circuit to the electric motor. Current also flows through the coil of the solenoid 105 from lead conductor L-l, through the latter coil, through conductor 152, contacts a, a and to lead conductor L-2.

It will be noted that, when motor 80 and solenoid 105 are energized in the manner last described, carriage 56 moves downwardly, thus permitting switch 134 to open and insuring that the manually operable master switch 110 cannot be used to complete the circuit to relay 130 until such time as carriage 56 returns to the fully raised position shown in FIGURE 2. However, in the event of an emergency, such as failure of electric power at the source, a manually operable normally open emergency switch 155 is shunted across conductors 136, (FIG- URE 7) and may be located remote from master switch 110. Emergency switch may be closed momentarily in the event that the carriage 56 has come to rest with follower 85 at some point between the top of cam 91 and the shoulder 92 in the course of its downward travel at the time of a power failure. It is apparent that this will effect energization of the coil of relay 130 so that a cycle in the operation of the article dispensing apparatus 44 may then be completed.

It is apparent that, during the course of the latter cycle, the carriage 56 will start to move downwardly so that, in the course of its next upward movement, which is effected solely by the weight of the permanent magnet 57, the free end portion of follower 85 will engage and momentarily open the knock-off switch 111 so the parts will return to the position shown in FIGURE 7; i.e., so the relay 139 is deenergized.

The grasping device 57 is attached to the carriage 56, having follower 85 thereon, by means of cable 60 for convenience and to permit grasping device 57 to rest upon each successive article at the pick-up station in the interim between successive actuations of the dispensing apparatus 44. However, it is to be understood that grasping device 57 may be supported by follower carriage 56 through other means. For example, carriage 56, grasping device 57 and shaft 64 may all be positioned at the same side or at the front of apparatus 44 and the operation of carriage 56 reversed. Thus, follower 85 would engage shaft 64 to effect each upward active stroke of carriage 56 and device 57, and follower 85 may subsequently be released to permit grasping device 57 to return to lowered position.

As heretofore stated, the present article dispensing apparatus may be used for handling many different types of articles and such articles may be conveyed for considerable distances, since the length of stroke of the grasping device 57 is limited only by the length of the cable or pliable element 60, the height or length of the frame of the apparatus 44 and the length of the helically grooved shaft 64.

It is apparent, therefore, that the dispensing apparatus 44 may project upwardly a substantial distance above the level of the housing 10 and that the discharge chute 24, including the gate 115 and stripper 121 may be positioned a substantial distance above the top wall of the storage housing It), with suitable modifications being made in the upper run or rails 31 of the storage rack 20 so that, if desired, the housing ltl may be completely concealed or buried beneath the level of the earth. Thus, if the apparatus is used for dispensing cans of lubricating oil at a service station, for example, whenever the service station is closed, the apparatus may be rendered inoperable by disconnecting the connector 133 (FIGURE 7) from the source of electrical energy so that the housing 10 and its contents are protected from damage or theft while the automobile service station is unattended.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising (a) a housing having an article dispensing opening therein,

(b) a support in said housing adjacent said opening,

() means to support a supply of articles to be dispensed,

(d) a helically grooved rotary shaft vertically positioned within said housing,

(e) a follower normally spaced from said shaft,

(f) a movable guide supporting said follower and being movable in a path substantially parallel to said shaft,

(g) an article grasping device operatively connected to said movable guide and adapted to grasp and elevate an article to be dispensed,

(h) means to drive said shaft,

(i) electrically operable means to move said follower into engagement with said shaft whereby said shaft imparts an active stroke to said movable guide and thus to said device,

(j) manually operable switch means interposed in an electrical circuit to said electrically operable means,

(k) means to release the grasped article thus elevated by the grasping device, and

(1) means to direct the released article to said support.

2. Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising (a) a housing having an article dispensing opening therein,

(1)) a support in said housing adjacent said opening,

(a) means to support a supply of articles to be dispensed,

(d) a substantially upright frame in said housing,

(e) a normally lowered gripper device guided for substantially vertical movement in said frame,

( a substantially upright rotary shaft journaled adjacent said gripper device and having a spiral groove therein,

(g) a movable follower operatively connected to said gripper device adjacent one side of said shaft and being movable into and out of engagement with the groove in said shaft, (h) electrically operable means for moving said follower into engagement with said shaft,

(i) manually operable switch means interposed in an electrical circuit to said electrically operable means,

(i) the lead of the spiral groove of said shaft being such as to impart an upward active stroke to said gripper device each time said follower is moved into engagement with the groove in said shaft,

(k) means on said gripper device for gripping an article each time the gripper device occupies a lowered position whereby an article is elevated by said gripper device each time the follower is moved into engagement with the groove in said shaft,

(l) means to release the gripped article thus elevated by said gripper device, and

(m) means to direct the released article to said support.

3. A structure according to claim 2, in which said electrically operable means comprises an actuator connected to said frame and engageable with said follower to move the same into engagement with said shaft when said gripper device occupies said lowered position, spring means normally urging each the follower and the actuator away from said shaft, said electrically operable means also comprising a solenoid operatively connected ,to said actuator for moving the same against said follower upon energization thereof, retaining means for retaining said follower in engagement with said shaft during each active upward stroke of said gripper device and for releasing said follower at the end of each said upward stroke whereby the follower moves away from said shaft and the gripper device returns to lowered position by gravity, and second switch means engageable by said follower in the course of the return of the gripper device to lowered position for breaking the circuit to said solenoid.

4. Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising (a) a housing having an article dispensing opening therein,

(b) a support in said housing adjacent said opening,

(0) means to support a supply of articles to be dispensed,

(d) a substantially upright frame in said housing,

(e) a normally lowered vertically movable gripper carriage on said frame,

(7) a gripper on said carriage,

(g) a first member movable with said gripper carriage,

(h) a second member carried by said frame,

(i) electrically operable means for rotating one of said members,

(j) said one of said members comprising a substan- V tially vertical shaft having a helical ridge thereon,

(k) the other of said members including a follower,

(l) electrically operable means for moving said follower into engagement with said shaft whereby relative movement is effected between said first and second members,

.(m) said relative movement between said first and second members serving to elevate said carriage and said gripper,

(a) means on said gripper for gripping an article each time the gripper occupies a lowered position whereby an article is elevated by said gripper each time said follower is moved into engagement with said shaft,

() means for releasing the gripped article thus elevated,

(p) means to direct the released article to said support,

(q) manually operable switch means interposed in an electrical circuit to both of said electrically operable means for initiating energization of said electrically operable means,

(r) means for withdrawing said follower from engagement with said shaft upon predetermined upward movement being imparted to said gripper carriage, and

(s) means for breaking the circuit to both of said electrically operable means following withdrawal of said follower from engagement with said shaft.

5. Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising (a) a housing having an article dispensing opening therein,

(b) a support in said housing adjacent said opening,

(c) means to support a supply of articles to be dispensed,

(d) a substantially upright frame having a front portion and a rear portion,

(e) a gripper carriage and a follower carriage guided for relative substantially vertical movement on respective front and rear portions of said frame,

(7) a guide on an upper portion of said frame,

(g) a cable interconnecting said carriages and extending over said guide between said carriages,

(h) a substantially upright shaft journaled in said frame adjacent said follower carriage and having a spiral groove therein,

(i) a follower comprising a rod pivotally connected to said follower carriage adjacent one side of said shaft and extending past said shaft,

(1') means for driving said shaft,

(k) means for moving said follower into engagement with the groove in said shaft,

(l) the lead of the spiral groove in said shaft being such as to impart a downward active stroke to said follower carriage and an upward active stroke to said gripper carriage each time said follower is moved into engagement with the groove in said shaft,

(m) a gripping device carried by said gripper carriage and arranged to grip an article each time the gripping device occupies lowered position whereby an article is elevated by said gripping device each time the follower is moved into engagement with the groove in said shaft,

(n) means to release the article thus elevated by said gripping device, and

(0) means to direct the released article to said support.

6. A structure according to claim 5, in which the combined weight of said gripper carriage and said gripping device is greater than the weight of said follower and follower carriage and including means normally yieldably urging said follower away from said shaft, and means to retain said follower in engagement with said shaft during predetermined movement of said carriages and for then releasing said follower whereby said follower is then urged out of engagement with said shaft and the gripper carriage returns to a lowered position by gravity.

7. A structure according to claim 5, in which said means for moving said follower into engagement with said shaft includes an electromagnetic device operatively connected to said follower, a normally open manually operable master switch interposed in an electrical circuit to said electromagnetic device, and means operable independently of the master switch for maintaining energization of said electromagnetic device for a predetermined interval following the closing of said master switch.

8. A structure according to claim 5, in which said means for driving said shaft includes an electric motor, and a normally open manually operable master switch interposed in an electrical circuit to said electric motor whereby upon manually closing said master switch the motor is energized to impart rotation to said shaft.

9. A structure according to claim 8, including means 10. A structure according to claim 9 including a second normally open switch arranged in series in the electrical circuit between said master switch and the motor and the means for breaking the circuit, and means engageable by one of said carriages when said follower carriage occupies inactive, raised position for closing said second switch, said second switch being so arranged as to prevent effecting a repeat cycle in the operation of the apparatus by said master switch during the course of a complete downward stroke and then an upward stroke of said follower carriage.

11. Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising (a) a housing having an article dispensing opening therein,

(b) a first support in said housing adjacent said opening,

(c) a helically grooved rotary shaft,

(d) a follower normally spaced from said shaft,

(e) a movable guide supporting said follower and being movable in a path substantially parallel to said shaft,

(7) an article grasping device normally occupying a lowered position and being operatively connected to said movable guide and adapted to grasp and support an article to be dispensed,

(3) means to drive said shaft,

(11) means to move said follower into engagement with said shaft whereby said shaft imparts an active upward stroke to said movable guide and thus to said device,

(i) means to support a supply of articles in said housing and to position articles beneath said grasping device,

(1') said grasping device comprising a permanent magnet adapted to engage and attract an article thereto prior to each active stroke thereof,

(k) a second support pivoted for movement about a substantially horizontal axis and having portions between which said magnet passes in the course of each upward active stroke thereof, but which is adapted to be engaged and is swung upwardly by each successive article supported by said magnet,

(l) a stripper element spaced above said pivoted second support and past which said magnet moves in the course of each successive active stroke thereof and being adapted to engage each successive article as the magnet moves thereby to thus release such article from the magnet whereby the article will fall onto the pivoted support therebeneath, and

(m) means to direct the released article from the second support to the first support.

12. A structure according to claim 11, including means yieldably urging said pivoted second support downwardly into a normally inactive position in which the lower surface thereof will be engaged with each successive article as it is raised by the magnet.

13. Apparatus for dispensing articles comprising (a) a housing having an article dispensing opening therein,

(12) a support in said housing adjacent said opening,

(c) means to support a supply of articles in said housing to be dispensed,

(d) a substantially upright frame in said housing,

(2) a normally lowered gripper device guided for sub stantially vertical movement in said frame,

(f) a substantially upright rotary shaft journaled in said frame adjacent said gripper device and having a spiral groove therein,

(g) a movable follower operatively connected to said 13 gripper device adjacent one side of said shaft and being movable into and out of engagement with the groove in said shaft,

(11) the lead of the spiral groove of said shaft being such as to impart an upward active stroke to said gripper device each time said follower is moved into engagement with the groove in said shaft,

(i) a magnet on said gripper device for attracting and gripping an article from said support means each time the gripper device occupies a lowered position whereby an article is elevated by said gripper device each time the follower is moved into engagement with the groove in said shaft,

(j) means to strip articles from said magnet during the course of each upward movement of the gripping device and as the gripping device is elevated a predetermined distance, and

14 (k) means to direct successive stripped articles to said support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 432,374 Coleman July 15, 1890 984,839 Neiman Feb. 21, 1911 1,448,057 Denehie Mar. 13, 1923 2,238,725 Fry Apr. 15, 1941 2,247,576 De Stefani July 1, 1941 2,252,493 Dennis Aug. 12, 1941 2,572,999 Elliott Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 599,429 Canada June 7, 1960 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES COMPRISING (A) A HOUSING HAVING AN ARTICLE DISPENSING OPENING THEREIN, (B) A SUPPORT IN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID OPENING, (C) MEANS TO SUPPORT A SUPPLY OF ARTICLES TO BE DISPENSED, (D) A HELICALLY GROOVED ROTARY SHAFT VERTICALLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, (E) A FOLLOWER NORMALLY SPACED FROM SAID SHAFT, (F) A MOVABLE GUIDE SUPPORTING SAID FOLLOWER AND BEING MOVABLE IN A PATH SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SHAFT, (G) AN ARTICLE GRASPING DEVICE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOVABLE GUIDE AND ADAPTED TO GRASP AND ELEVATE AN ARTICLE TO BE DISPENSED, (H) MEANS TO DRIVE SAID SHAFT, (I) ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE MEANS TO MOVE SAID FOLLOWER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHAFT WHEREBY SAID SHAFT IMPARTS AN ACTIVE STROKE TO SAID MOVABLE GUIDE AND THUS TO SAID DEVICE, (J) MANUALLY OPERABLE SWITCH MEANS INTERPOSED IN AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT TO SAID ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE MEANS, (K) MEANS TO RELEASE THE GRASPED ARTICLE THUS ELEVATED BY THE GRASPING DEVICE, AND (L) MEANS TO DIRECT THE RELEASED ARTICLE TO SAID SUPPORT. 